WHERE TO STAY IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND

Where is the best place to stay in Glasgow?

There are lots of words that could describe the biggest city in Scotland as it is fantastically diverse from one area to the next. A lot of people say ‘think of Manhattan but with a Scottish accent’ and you get the idea as it brims with some of the finest architecture in the land and challenges London for the ultimate shopping and dining experience. The city used to be full of old warehouses and run-down Victorian houses but has been transformed into one of the most aspiring cities in the world today.

Like most cities, the best area to stay in Glasgow is the city centre, which has the most exciting modern and traditional attractions on its doorstep. The main focal point is George Square and many visitors like to start from this area as it is surrounded by important religious buildings that ooze Victorian and Edwardian styles. There are also numerous excellent art galleries, informative museums, lovely parks and has the best collection of restaurants, nightlife and hotels.

City Centre, the best area to stay in Glasgow

The city centre is easily divided by the motorway road to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and the University of Strathclyde to the east. This area contains the majority of the tourist sights, which is the main reason why this part of the city is perfect for any visitor. In the heart of the city you will find many 19th and 20th century buildings that are of Edwardian and Victorian styles, which surround the main central square, George Square.

The square has several statues and monuments that are dedicated to famous past leaders and other popular figures and this is where the imposing City Chambers is found. This magnificent Italian Renaissance place is the headquarters of Glasgow City Council but there are tour guides to take you around to see various rooms like the lobby, debating chamber and banqueting halls.

Another pinpoint of medieval times is the Glasgow Cross, which is a clock tower that marks the spot of the where the original city centre used to be. The Glasgow University is the fourth oldest in the UK and was founded in the mid 15th century, which has stunning grounds and is home to the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery.

There are many brilliant museums in the city and if you were to see every one of them then you would be here a very long time. The best ones include the Gallery of Modern Art, which houses many a great collection of modern paintings and other forms of art like sculptures. The Glasgow Science Centre is a huge complex that has fun and interactive science exhibits for all the family and is where you will find the only tower in the world that can spin the full circle from its own base.

The grandest of the museums is the Kelvingrove Museum, which has various artefacts on the history of Scotland to the Ancient World. There are even the works of Monet and Van Gogh that are on display as well as other celebrated artists from the country. Other museums and art galleries to check out are the Street Level Photoworks and Transmission Gallery, who promote the local photographers and artists with regular exhibitions at each place.

For shopping, the St Enoch Centre is one of the largest malls in Europe, which sells lots of items from electronics to kid’s toys and The Barras is the next best thing with heaps of street stalls and the experience is certainly unique. There are a couple of greens in the city centre that are perfect for sitting down on and watching city life go by and the main ‘Green’ usually has concerts, movies and festivals planned. However, if it is music that you are after then you find plenty of it here as the city is very famous for its music scene and the best venues tend to be ‘The Barrowlands’, ‘King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut’ and ‘Stereo’.

The city centre has much going on at night with live music, various theatres that are old and new and in particular ‘The Citizen’s Theatre’ is one of the most famous in the world. There are a load of cinemas that play the latest films and there are a decent amount of comedy clubs and ‘Jongleurs’ is one of the most popular in Glasgow.

There is an excellent and dynamic range of restaurants in the city, though the city is famous for its curries, so if it’s something you enjoy then try it and if not there are many other cuisines including Chinese, European, Japanese and American. In Scotland, the distance between you and a pub or club is probably only a maximum couple of metres at best and therefore you are spoilt for choice.

The same is said for hotels and there are a good cluster of four and five star places in the centre that provide excellent views over the city and are used much by famous personnel.

Other neighbourhoods to stay in Glasgow

West End

The West End is not far at all from the city centre but is a little quieter, though has some decent things to see and do. The Police Museum is an eye-opening place, which commemorates the oldest police force in the UK and there are a numerous infamous police cases that are on display.

The Riverside Museum is also found here, which showcases an amazing collection of models and various types of past transportation like trains, planes and cars. There are theatres, art galleries, parks, cinemas and comedy clubs as well as an amazing array of restaurants, pubs and hotels.